In the 18th and 19th centuries,
England, Scotland, and Great Britain taxed windows. This was an ingenious way
to tax the wealthy without calling it a tax on the affluent. While some bricked
their windows, it led to a fair and less arbitrary income tax on rich citizens.
Other crazy taxes include Denmark’s $110 per cow because of
their methane byproducts. Alabama’s casinos complain of the ten-cent playing
card tax for a deck of cards purchased in the state. Chicago charges an extra 5.25%
tax on candy and sugary soft drinks. Amounting to $29 million per year, France
taxes online ads on Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Yahoo.
However, no matter how unfair taxes may seem, our government
expects us to pay them. God does as well.
In Mark 12:13-17, Jewish leaders came to Jesus and asked a
question about the Imperial tax to try and trap him so they could bring a
charge of disloyalty to the Roman government. In a stroke of genius, Jesus told
them to, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
In Matthew 17:24-27, Jesus went a step further. The tax
collectors came to Peter and asked if Jesus paid the temple tax (a tax owed by
every Israeli male over 20. Exodus 30:11-15). Peter told them yes. After they
left, Jesus reminded Peter that because he was Lord of the Sanctuary, he did
not owe the temple tax. He did pay though to avoid any misunderstanding about
his loyalty to the temple.
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